Ingonish Beach
Ingonish Beach
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
268 reviews
Excellent
177
Very good
68
Average
18
Poor
4
Terrible
1
Judi M
1 contribution
Jul 2020 • Friends
Very disappointed with Parks Canada these past couple of years! Been coming to Ingonish Beach for 50 years. The beautiful sandy beach is gone! Nothing but rocks and maybe a wee bit of sand at lowest tide. Lifeguards on duty but very few swimmers. You are expected to pay for a pass to access the beach, however there is no access for elderly, young children and the disabled! What are we paying for??? There is a boardwalk that comes part way to the beach but then there are about 20+ feet of rocks to walk over before you can get to the waters edge. This year it is even more amusing as they put two boardwalks down for COVID restrictions; one to come down to the beach and one to return to the parking lot. However, once you get down to the beach climbing over the 20+ feet of rocks, you cannot get to the return boardwalk because the beach is covered with more rocks! So nobody is adhering to the physical distancing requirements.
There are two Lifeguards on duty and only a handful of people on this beach, however the adjacent freshwater lake is being used by many families and no lifeguards on duty there! As well the North Bay Beach, which is also in the National Park just a few km up road, is now packed with people who used to frequent Ingonish Beach and again no Lifeguards! Ridiculous is what it is! Poor management by the park and very disappointing for anyone coming to enjoy the beautiful sandy beach we have all raved about for years!
Years ago the park would bulldoze the rocks back so folks could enjoy the beach! Why are they not doing this now???? Very simple and inexpensive solution.
It’s embarrassing for us who have lived here all our lives or have returned from living away and enjoyed this beach every summer, year after year dutifully paying our park fees and telling everyone to come visit! I have heard a number of comments from tourists asking where is this beautiful beach they heard so much about!
Hasn’t COVID-19 has done enough to decrease tourism tourism?
Make some good decisions Parks Canada! Give us back our beach!
There are two Lifeguards on duty and only a handful of people on this beach, however the adjacent freshwater lake is being used by many families and no lifeguards on duty there! As well the North Bay Beach, which is also in the National Park just a few km up road, is now packed with people who used to frequent Ingonish Beach and again no Lifeguards! Ridiculous is what it is! Poor management by the park and very disappointing for anyone coming to enjoy the beautiful sandy beach we have all raved about for years!
Years ago the park would bulldoze the rocks back so folks could enjoy the beach! Why are they not doing this now???? Very simple and inexpensive solution.
It’s embarrassing for us who have lived here all our lives or have returned from living away and enjoyed this beach every summer, year after year dutifully paying our park fees and telling everyone to come visit! I have heard a number of comments from tourists asking where is this beautiful beach they heard so much about!
Hasn’t COVID-19 has done enough to decrease tourism tourism?
Make some good decisions Parks Canada! Give us back our beach!
Written July 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Savagecat G
1 contribution
Jul 2021
What happened this beautiful beach ? There’s no sand left only big rocks. Why isn’t the park clearing some of the rocks away. Tried to sit on the beach last year and it was terrible and this year it’s worst. They even took the lifeguards away. It’s so sad this was a gorgeous beach and brought lots of tourists.
Written July 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nsmythe
Halifax, Canada50 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
We were so excited to stop here and go swimming, the water is a beautiful shade of turquoise and the views around it are breathtaking. The wages were so high that we could not even get to the water...all rock. Facilities were in good shape and had clean bathrooms.
Written August 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
awacsgal2016
Chilliwack, Canada63 contributions
Aug 2020 • Friends
Usually this is an amazing beach to visit but there were so many hills of rocks it was treacherous. They even closed the beach for a few days for safety! When we did try to get to the water, we slid on the rocks & then we’re hit by them in the surf as we tried to reach the little bit of sand showing. We don’t understand why they didn’t remove the rocks & move them further down the sandbar where it has eroded badly. This was such a disappointment especially since it’s the only beach in the area with lifeguards.
Written September 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Seewalt44
5 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
We have been to many beaches in Canada. From the BC' okanagan to AB, Saskatchewan, PEI (N,S,E, & West), NB, and most of NS. The scenery is outstanding. The sand is clean and soft, there are no rocks in the water. And the beach is very long so you can easily find a quiet spot with a little walking. We also found the water warmer than expected and stayed in it for an hour at a time.
Great family beach. Hope people keep it clean and don't leave a mess!
Great family beach. Hope people keep it clean and don't leave a mess!
Written July 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrea M
Sydney, Canada209 contributions
Aug 2015 • Solo
I love this beach but tend to stay away during the afternoon when the large crowds from all over arrive at one of Cape Breton's best beaches. Early-morning and early evening is best for me! The beach has it all....its a great beach for swimming, it's supervised, it's sandy, it's fairly long, there is a canteen serving lots of meals and snacks, there is a hiking trail around the lake (which is also great for swimming) next to the beach, there are washrooms and changing rooms and many other facilities around the beach. The scenery is also nice too especially the views of the Keltic Lodge and Cape Smokey.
Written November 8, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brandelyn C
Calgary, Canada12 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
📍 Located on the northeastern shores of Cape Breton Island, Ingonish Beach is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking tranquility and breathtaking views. This sandy paradise is nestled within the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, where the rugged cliffs meet the endless expanse of the Atlantic Ocean.
Written September 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CharlieinTexas
Austin, TX5,169 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
Nice setting in the Park. Wooden boardwalk to avoid the rocks. Lots of Parking. Nice views. Smallish reaves break close to shore.
Written July 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
willis1novascotia
nova scotia45 contributions
Jun 2021
Use to be amazing beach but the amount of rock that has come in makes it extremely hard to get to the small part which is sand…Also after the fire last year there is no change rooms which make it very hard to change out of wet suits when there is only two portable toilets…
Written June 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susie W
Edinburgh, UK64 contributions
Aug 2019
Really wish we could have stayed here all day, its absolutely beautiful. Such beautiful scenery and amazing views all round.
Written October 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Has the beach opened back up since they closed it back in July 2020 due to rock concerns? Has the sand come back yet?
Written March 2, 2021
check out ingosish chalets, rustic cabins walking distance to the beach and very reasonable. not any 4 or 5 star motels in the area
Written July 26, 2018
Is the beach take-out place cash only?
Written July 23, 2018
I don’t know all of the hotels in the area but there were cabins in the park right near the beach. There’s also a really nice hotel on the same property up on the cliff. The place we stayed at was called the Driftwood Lodge. It’s located about 10 minutes north of the beach itself. It’s a little rustic but very well priced and has its own beach that you can walk on. Plus sleeping with the window open listening to the surf all night couldn’t be beat! The proprietor is a lovely woman who is also a park guide I believe.
Written July 24, 2018
Bonjour
J'aimerais y aller cette été mais malheuresement je n'ai pas de voiture mais je compte y aller en car.est il possible dy aller en car en partant de la ville ingonish?
Written May 10, 2018
Is there kayaking option at this beach?
Written August 1, 2017
Yes there is, but I am not sure if you need your own, I saw people with some.
Written August 2, 2017
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